To the editor:

Representative Kenneth Marshall owes the voters an apology rather than a slew of lame excuses. Only from an honest reckoning will Mr. Marshall preserve the legacy of his good works.

Mr. Marshall owed us conduct according a higher bar. Failure to honor this obligation is most disappointing to me. Bristol’s electorate was shamed from the criminal activities of former State Representative Raymond Gallison. Early warning signs from Board of Elections fines hit Gallison and Marshall without deterring their continued flouting of the rules. I don’t infer the actions of Gallison and Marshall are on par. But each case erodes confidence and trust, something the electorate deserves and both men promised to give. Arguably, Mr. Marshall’s actions are more egregious, given his disregard of the enhanced need for trust from Gallison’s outrage.

Mr. Marshall’s “mentor,” Speaker of the House Nick Mattiello, is embroiled in a campaign account scandal of his own. Mattiello’s predecessor was jailed for bribery and campaign account abuse. Mr. Marshall’s predecessors on the finance committee include Mr. Gallison and John Carnevale. Gallison is jailed. Carnevale is currently under indictment for fraudulent candidate registration yet has been Democratic Party endorsed to run again! This culture of arrogance seems to infuse all who touch it, including Mr. Marshall.

The culture of arrogance is centered around those charged with managing the state’s tax dollars. How can Mr. Marshall, one charged with tremendous influence over the billion-dollar state budget, not properly account for paltry campaign contributions and expenditures in a lawful manner? If the reporting requirements are so “complex”, then Mr. Marshall, why not spend a few dollars to hire a professional with knowledge of the requirements to handle things? This is a simple solution, but one that would require scrutiny and accountability. One is left to wonder if scrutiny and accountability are not what Mr. Marshall wants.

How can one expect the electorate to believe Mr. Marshall cannot determine the proper credit card to fund personal vacation expenses? The lame explanation is the cards have similar colors. But they have different account numbers, no?

Last but not least this explanation is needed. Given the lack of demonstrated honesty, respect for the law and legal entanglements from finance committee members and from the Speaker, what remains for “further study” to wrest control over the state’s tax dollars from the death grip of the Speaker of the House?  History clearly shows this control is fuel for the axiom that absolute power corrupts.  Mr. Marshall chaired the committee charged with evaluating the line item veto.  After an 11^th hour hearing the “complex” matter was indefinitely tabled for “further study”. Given the truth of history, what needs to be studied?

Why should absolute power rest in the hands of people like Kenneth Marshall and John Carnevale and Raymond Gallison and Nicholas Mattiello? I would like Mr. Marshall to give us an honest answer to this.

And an apology.

Louis Sousa 

Bristol